Wethersfield Committee To Revisit Cost-Cutting Suggestion

Officials Recommend That Asphalt Depth At High School Project Be Maintained At Original Specification

September 10, 2013|By CHRISTOPHER HOFFMAN, Special to The Courant, The Hartford Courant

WETHERSFIELD — The school building committee decided Monday to revisit its decision to decrease the thickness of asphalt for parking lots at the reconstructed Wethersfield High School after town officials and engineers raised objections.

"My concern is that we don't use little pickup trucks to plow the lots," Director of Public Works Michael Turner said. "The concern is wear and tear over time."

Architect Rusty Malik added that his expert was also uneasy about reducing asphalt depth in the parking lots from 3 to 2 1/2 inches.

"His position is that he would not recommend changing it," Malik said.

The town's fire department also expressed concerns, officials said.

The committee reduced the asphalt thickness to save money – about $50,000. Officials made that and other cost reductions after the first phase of the $75 million project came in over budget and more PCBs than expected were found, pushing up cleanup costs.

"There are cuts that have to be made," Committee Chairwoman Christine Fortunato said. "If we put something in, we have to take something out."

Fortunato expressed frustration at what she said was the failure of town officials and engineers to make clear their opposition to reducing the asphalt thickness.

"I want staff speaking up," she said. "I want to hear from people."

But Town Manager Jeff Bridges said that he believed that officials had clearly expressed their reservations.

"We said it wasn't gong to last very long with heavy equipment," Bridges said.

The committee reached a consensus to reconsider the change, noting that paving will not be done until next spring.

Meanwhile, Project Manager Lorel Prucell of O&G Industries told the committee that she would compile of list possible money-saving changes for the project's second phase, budgeted at about $52 million. Purcell said that she is creating the list after the first phase cost more than expected and bids on similar projects elsewhere in the state also came in over budget.

Purcell didn't have a dollar amount for the changes, which will be listed as alternates on bid documents, meaning the committee could choose the cheaper option depending on the budget. One possible change would be a less elaborate loading dock, she said.

The bid deadline will be mid-November with work expected to begin in mid-December, Purcell said.

The project's first phase, which includes preparing the site and outdoor work, will begin later this month. The committee has scheduled an official groundbreaking for Sept. 23.